Direct-scan cash-management systems and methods

Abstract

The invention provided herein generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for handling cash or quasi-cash items in such a way as to substantially eliminate employee theft, error, or difficulties in reconciling a record of transactions with a total amount of money in a cash drawer. The invention also provides devices, systems, and methods for cash-collateralized electronic banking.

1 . A cash-management system adapted for handling of multiple items of at least one currency type, the currency of each type having a plurality of predetermined value denominations, the currency of each type further comprising a unique identifier, wherein said unique identifier is unique to each item of currency within a currency type, such that each item of currency of a given type is distinguishable from every other item of said type; the system comprising a user-interface stage, the user-interface stage comprising an intake portal adapted to receive currency inputs from a user, wherein the intake portal comprises a scanner capable of capturing item data from an item of intake currency; wherein the item data comprises the item's unique identifier and the item's value denomination; the system further comprising a processor adapted to receive, process, and transmit said item data to a system record, wherein the system record comprises a system inventory of all currency items present in the system; the system further comprising a sorter adapted to sort each item of input currency into one of a plurality of primary currency stores, wherein each primary currency store corresponds to the value denomination, such that after handling by the sorter each item of input currency is placed in a selected primary currency store according to the value denomination of said item of input currency. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user-interface stage further comprises an output portal adapted to return output currency to a user, and wherein the output portal comprises a scanner capable of capturing item data from an item of output currency, such that output currency is removed from the system inventory, and wherein the system comprises a retriever adapted to retrieve a predetermined number of one or more denominations of currency from the appropriate primary currency stores to deliver the output currency through the output portal to the user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the intake portal and the output portal are the same, such that a single portal is capable of fulfilling both intake and output functions. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the items of currency further comprise indicia of currency type and wherein the scanning, sorting, and record functions of the system are adapted to handle currencies of a plurality of currency types. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of currency types corresponds to plurality of national issuers of currency, and wherein the primary currency stores comprise a separate primary currency store for each value denomination within each currency type. 
     
     
         6 . A cash-inventory system employing any of the features of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         7 . A method of cash management comprising the steps of:
 providing a cash-management system comprising at least one cash-handling portal comprising scanning capability;   scanning all currency as part of a cash transaction, cash deposit, cash withdrawal, or any combination thereof, to record data relating to each individual item of currency, wherein the data comprises data unique to each individual item;   creating a cash inventory record treating each individual item of currency as a separate entry;   updating the cash inventory record with each transaction, deposit, withdrawal, or combination thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising sorting items of currency into like denomination. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising packaging items of currency into a dynamic storage package (DSP) having a unique dynamic storage package identifier (DSPID) and having a sub-inventory of currency bundled into the DSP. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the DSP is adapted for temporary storage of currency and optional retrieval of currency from the DSP as required for withdrawals, transactions or any combination thereof, and concomitant adjustments to the cash inventory record. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising packaging items of currency into a static storage package (SSP) having a unique static storage package identifier (SSPID) and having a sub-inventory of currency contained within the SSP. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the SSP is adapted for secure storage of currency, and wherein the SSP comprises at least one characteristic selected from: tamperproof, fireproof, waterproof, EMP-proof, and location-trackable. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising storing separately packaged, uniquely identified, and separately inventoried currency belonging to multiple users in a centralized secure facility;
 maintaining an inventory of all currency in the facility wherein the inventory associates a user/owner with the inventory record of each item of currency;   coordinating transactions between or among users, wherein the transactions comprise updates to the inventory record reflecting a change in ownership of the currency.